Farmaajo Signs Somalia’s New Electoral Law Ahead of the Upcoming Polls

Somalia has a new electoral law. That follows President Mohamed Abdulahi Farmaajo’s decision to sign the electoral bill into law on Friday.

With that signing, the country is one more step closer to holding the polls planned for later this year.

President Farmaajo signed the new law during the ceremony to mark the end of Somalia’s 10th Parliament session. Following the ceremony, parliamentarians will embark on a two-month holiday.

Courtesy of the law, Somalis will now vote for all their leaders directly. In the past, clan elders were responsible for selecting delegates who then voted for their preferred leaders, based on the 4.5 formula.

The new law will ensure that nothing derails the democratic process that is taking root in the Horn of Africa country.

Moreover, the law will help Somalia to hold its first direct elections in over 50 years.

Since 2007, the country has organized four presidential elections. In the last 13 years, it has chosen its leaders via a variant of college system.

In 2020, it will hold its polls through universal suffrage though that may face its own challenges given the ongoing insecurity all over the country.
The Parliamentary election will take place in December 2020, and the Presidential election is expected to take place in February 2021.